Macomb Bridge Replacement Details Released

More information is now known about plans to replace the Wigwam Hollow Road bridge in Macomb.

A public hearing on the project was held during the City Council's September 4 meeting. Eric Moe of McClure Engineering said the bridge will be widened from 20 feet to 30 feet. A sidewalk will be added on the east side for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Moe said the bridge will be doubled in length to 200 feet. It will stretch from Jana Road to Woodland Lane. He said the new length will prevent floodwaters from topping the bridge.

“The new bridge -- and this is a federal requirement -- has to be designed to not overtop at the 30 year flood event. In fact, the bridge is not going to be overtopped at the 100 year flood event,” Moe said.

Moe said the estimated price tag is $2.5 million. The federal government will provide $1.6 million. Federal and state money funneled through the county will cover another $400,000 and the city will pay about $500,000.

The city money will likely come from the sales tax voters approved to pay for infrastructure projects.

Moe said the schedule calls for bids to be opened in November 2013. Construction could begin a couple months after that. It will take about one year to complete the project.

The road will be closed during construction.

“It's much more efficient to construct a bridge with no traffic considerations,” Moe said.

He told aldermen the bridge was originally built in the 1930s or '40s. He said the superstructure was replaced and a pier was added in the middle of the river during the early '60s.